Rose Bowl 2013: Stanford vs. Wisconsin TV Info, Predictions and More

The 2013 Rose Bowl will feature the Stanford Cardinal, champions of the Pac-12 Conference, facing the Wisconsin Badgers, champions of the B1G Conference. Stanford (11-2) beat UCLA 27-24 in the Pac-12 Championship and is making its 13th appearance in the Rose Bowl. Wisconsin (8-5) embarrassed Nebraska 70-31 in the B1G Championship and is making its third straight Rose Bowl appearance and eighth in school history.

Key Storylines

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Both Stanford and Wisconsin had to face rematches to earn an appearance in the Grandaddy of Them All. For Stanford, it had to beat UCLA on the road (ironically enough, in the Rose Bowl), then win again a week later in Palo Alto. The Cardinal did so with an exciting 27-24 win over the Bruins.

Wisconsin avenged its 30-27 defeat in Lincoln in September—and then some—with a 70-31 demolition of Nebraska in the B1G Championship in Indianapolis. The Badgers' evisceration of the Cornhuskers means Wisconsin will be the first five-loss team to compete for the Rose Bowl title.

Stanford Player to Watch: Kevin Hogan

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Wisconsin will know that Stanford’s primary weapon is running back Stepfan Taylor and will key its defense to stopping Taylor. It will be up to Hogan, a redshirt freshman who won the job in the middle of the season, to step onto the big stage and direct Stanford’s offense. The Badgers will likely force Hogan to make big plays to win.

Key Matchups: Matt Canada vs. Derek Mason

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Canada, Wisconsin’s offensive coordinator, coached circles around Bo Pelini and the Nebraska defensive unit in the B1G title game. Throughout the first half, his play-calling and personnel moves kept Nebraska off balance and out of position, allowing the Badgers to take a 42-10 (!) lead into the locker room.

But Mason, Stanford’s defensive coordinator, has the Cardinal sporting the nation’s 14th-best scoring defense. Of all the matchups in this year’s Rose Bowl, the chess match between these two coordinators will go the farthest in determining a winner.

Stanford Will Win If ...

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…Curt Phillips has to win the game for the Badgers. Wisconsin is relying on fifth-year senior Phillips to quarterback after Joel Stave was injured and Danny O’Brien flopped. Phillips is a solid game manager, but he does not have the kind of athletic ability needed to truly challenge a top-level defense. Wisconsin managed to demolish Nebraska with Phillips only throwing eight passes (and, amazingly enough, being only two yards off from being Wisconsin’s leading receiver).

If Phillips is being asked to win the game for Wisconsin, it is likely because Stanford has taken away the Badgers’ rushing attack. The Cardinal would have to like its chances in that matchup.

Wisconsin Will Win If ...

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…Stanford gives Wisconsin a little help. Yes, Stanford is a smart and well-disciplined team. But the Cardinal are 31st nationally in turnover margin and 69th nationally in penalties. If Wisconsin can have some success moving the ball and can play a clean game, the Badgers should be able to keep the game close into the fourth quarter and have a chance to sneak out of Pasadena with a trophy.

Prediction

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In many ways, Wisconsin and Stanford are mirror images. Both are tough, well-coached and physical football teams. But Stanford has a clear advantage at quarterback and also boasts the nation’s third-ranked rushing defense. Look for the Cardinal to make the Badgers one-dimensional and to do a far better job of stopping Wisconsin’s rushing attack than Nebraska did (although that’s not setting the bar too high). Both teams play basically the same game, but Stanford does it a little better and has a little more firepower to do so.

Fearless Forecast: Stanford 23, Wisconsin 17

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